Half of Britons oppose Labour's Plan to Tackle Prison overcrowding but blame the Conservative government for prison overcrowding

A new Ipsos survey reveals that the British public are divided on Labour's plan to address overcrowding in prisons, with a significant majority expressing concern over the state of the criminal justice system. The poll, conducted among 1,059 British adults aged 18-75, found that while the public consider Labour is better equipped to address crime and anti-social behaviour, there are reservations about their policies on prison management.

Mixed views on Labour’s prison policies:

• Labour perceived as better equipped to handle crime, keep Britain safe: A quarter of respondents (25%) believe Labour has the best policies for tackling crime and anti-social behaviour, compared to 16% who favour the Conservatives. A similar proportion think Labour has the best policies for keeping Britain safe (23% Labour vs. 16% Conservatives).
• Public more likely to blame previous Conservative government for prison overcrowding: When asked who is responsible for the current overcrowding of prisons in England and Wales, just over 6 in 10 (62%) blame the previous Conservative government, versus 35% who hold the current Labour government responsible.
• Half of Britons oppose early release plan:  53% of respondents oppose Labour's proposal to release certain prisoners early to alleviate overcrowding, with 21% supporting the initiative.  This divide is particularly pronounced among different age groups, with opposition highest amongst those aged 55-75 (73%).

• Public concerns on impact of early release: A majority of those surveyed anticipate negative consequences from the early release of prisoners, with approximately 3 in 5 anticipating an increase in recidivism rates (61%), anti-social behaviour (60%), and violent crime (57%). Few expect this plan will lead to better standards of living conditions for inmates (28%).

  

Significant concern about the criminal justice system:

Elsewhere in the poll, respondents were asked about their views on the current state of the criminal justice system in the UK. While a majority of Britons see prison overcrowding as a serious problem for criminal justice (79%), an almost equal amount also consider prison sentences being too short to be a serious problem as well (74%), highlighting the tensions surrounding public attitudes in this area. A large share of the public further feel that trial times (81%), police officer shortages (80%), and inadequate investment in prison and probation services (73%) are serious problems.

Dr Helen Powell, Research Director at Ipsos, said: 

Our findings reveal a complex picture surrounding public opinion on the current state of prisons and Labour's proposed solutions. There is a clear acknowledgement of the challenges facing the criminal justice system. Concerns about the potential impact of early release on recidivism and anti-social behaviour are particularly pronounced, highlighting the need for a nuanced and carefully considered approach to this complex issue.

Technical Note:

• Fieldwork was undertaken between 20th and 23rd September 2024.  A total of 1,059 interviews were conducted online with a representative quota sample of British adults aged 18-75.
• Data are weighted to match the profile of the population. All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error.